CA1254178A - Machines for filling containers with single-piece goods - Google Patents
Machines for filling containers with single-piece goodsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1254178A CA1254178A CA000470232A CA470232A CA1254178A CA 1254178 A CA1254178 A CA 1254178A CA 000470232 A CA000470232 A CA 000470232A CA 470232 A CA470232 A CA 470232A CA 1254178 A CA1254178 A CA 1254178A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- combination
- control means
- goods
- container
- control system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
- B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
- Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
- Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
- Turbine Rotor Nozzle Sealing (AREA)
- Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)
- Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
- Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
- Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
- Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
Abstract
UNITED STATES PATENT APPLICATION
OF
KJELL ANDERSSON
FOR
IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR FILLING CONTAINERS
WITH SINGLE-PIECE GOODS
Abstract of the Disclosure:
The invention relates to an improvement in a machine for filling containers with single-piece goods, said machine having means for accumulating the goods on an openable bottom at a level above a conveyor carrying a succession of empty containers to a region underneath said bottom, means being provided for opening the bottom in order to deposit the accumulated goods quantity in the container. The arrangement comprises means for raising the empty container from the conveyor into alignment with the, as yet, closed bottom directly beneath said bottom, and adapted, upon receipt of the goods quantity by said container, successively to absorb the momentum of the goods quantity, thereby to impart to the container a dampened downward movement back to the conveyor.
OF
KJELL ANDERSSON
FOR
IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR FILLING CONTAINERS
WITH SINGLE-PIECE GOODS
Abstract of the Disclosure:
The invention relates to an improvement in a machine for filling containers with single-piece goods, said machine having means for accumulating the goods on an openable bottom at a level above a conveyor carrying a succession of empty containers to a region underneath said bottom, means being provided for opening the bottom in order to deposit the accumulated goods quantity in the container. The arrangement comprises means for raising the empty container from the conveyor into alignment with the, as yet, closed bottom directly beneath said bottom, and adapted, upon receipt of the goods quantity by said container, successively to absorb the momentum of the goods quantity, thereby to impart to the container a dampened downward movement back to the conveyor.
Description
~a .
3 ~54~8 The present invention relates to an improvement in a machine ~or filling containers with single-piece goods, said machine having means for accumulating goods on an openable bottom at a level above a conveyor carrying a succession of empty containérs to a region underneath said bottom, means being provided for opening the bottom in order to deposit the accumula~ed goods quantity in the underlying container.
BACKGROUND O~ THE INVENT?ON
Prior art container filling machines of ~the type depositing from a height single-piece goods into a container on an underlying conveyor suffer from the disadvantage that the goods strike the container bottom unyieldingly carried on the conveyor with too great a force and frequently in a disorderly manner deviating from the orientation in which they are dropped, thus causing damage to the goods.
It is the object of this invention essentially to reduce this problem encountered in prior art machines of the type here referred to~
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN'rION
. . .
To this end, the machine according to the in-vention is provided with means for raising the empty container from the conveyor into alignment with the, as yet, closed bottom directly beneath said bottom, and adapted, upon receipt of the goods quantity by said con-tainer, successively to absorb the kinetic energy of the goods quantity, thereby to impart to the filled ~25~17~3 container a dampened downward movement bac~ to the conveyor.
In this manner, the impact of the goods on the con-tainer bottom will have the effect that the container takes over part of the kinetic energy of the deposited goods in a descending motion, such that the energy of impact of the goods on the con-tainer bottom is absorbed successively, and the risk of damage to the goods is reduced.
According to the present invention therefore there is provided in combination with a machine for filling containers with a single-piece goods and including an accumulating station having an openable bottom, means for providing an accumulation of the goods on said bottom while it is closed, and a conveyor for carrying a succession of empty containers to a region below said bottom, the improvement comprising means for opening said bottom to allow said accumulation of goods to fall against an underlying empty container, a movable devlce having a lower position ad~a-cent said underlying empty container and movable to an upper position to lift said empty container from the conveyor to an upper position for receiving said accumulation of goods upon opening of said bottom, and a control syst~m connected to said device for imparting thereto a dampened and continuous downward movement from its sald upper to its sald lower positlon, said system including means operable by downward impact of said accu-mulation against said container to initiate said continuous down-ward movement simultaneously with sald impact. Suitably the com-binatlon comprises also means for ad~usting the control system vary the velocity of said contlnuous downward movement. Deslr-ably sald lnitiating means includes a photocell positioned tosense said lmpact.
In one embodiment of the present invention the control system also includes an actuator connected to sald movable device, and control means connected to the actuator and having a first position for operating the actuator to raise sald device B i ~
1254~ 7~
from its lower to its upper position~ the control means having a second posltion for operating the actuator to hold said device in its said upper position, said control means having a third posi-tion for operating the actuator to impart said downward movement to said device. Suitably the control system also ~ncludes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its first to its second position in response to raising of said movable device to its upper position. Desirably said sensing device is operable to shift said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact. Suitably the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
15In a further embodiment of the present invention said actuator is a plunger-cylinder assembly, the control system also including a compressed air source, said control means being oper-able in its first position to connect said source to one side of the plunger of said assembly to raise said device, said control means being operable in its second position to connect said source to both sides of said plunger to hold said device in its said upper position, said control means being operable in its third position to vent one side of the plunger and thereby impart said downward movement. Suitably the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its first to its second position in response to raising of said movable device to its upper position. Desirably said sensing device is operable to shift said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultan~ously with said impact. Preferably said control means is three-position valve.
Suitably the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
35In another embodiment of the present invention the con-trol system also includes means for holding said devlce in its - 3a ~
~ZS~17~
upper position by opposing forces of which the upwardly directed holding force is adapted for downward yielding to accommodate movement of said device from its upper to its lower position.
Suitably said initiating means includes a sensing device for initiating said downward yielding.
The invention will be described below in more detail, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional con-tainer filling machine, showing details of the invention; and Fig. 2 ia schematic view of an embodiment of the inven-tion.
Fig. 1 illustrates a container filling machine of con-ventional construction, except that it is provided with means according to the invention which will be described in connection with Fig. 2. In this conventional machine, the function and basic construction of which will now be described, identical single-piece goods 1, such as rectangular packages, are carried in spaced apart relationship to a rectangular collecting space 2 having lateral boundary walls 2a,2b,2c,2d, by means of an endless conveyor belt, a section ~a of which constantly forms an end zone of the hori-~`~
'r~j - 3b -1254~7B
zontal bottom 4 of the space 2. The bottom end zone is located adiacent a plunger 5, the end face of which forms the side wall 2a of the space 2, said plunger being guided in such a manner that, when the goods have come to a stop against the space wall 2b and filled the said conveyor belt section or bottom zone 4a, i.e. when a row of a predetermined number of in-terabuttinq goods has been formed in this zone, the plunger is activated to make a forward stroke slightly .
longer than the width or transverse dimension of the belt section or bottom zone 4a, such that the row of goods is pushed out of this zone towards the opposite wall 2d of the space. At the same time, any preceding rows of goods on the bottom 4 are pushed towards the opposite wall 2d through the same distance. Beyond the bottom zone 4a, the bottom 4 is defined by a trap-door 4b divided in its center into two halves which can be horizontally pulled apart for opening~ The area of the trapdoor or bottom zone 4b is so chosen that this zone can be filled with a predetermined number of densely packed rows of goods. The trapdoor or bottom zone 4b can border upon the said belt section or bottom zone 4a or, as will appear from the drawing, may be separated therefrom by means of a stationary bottom zone 4c for intermediate storage of rows of goods. When the last row of goods, i.e. the row of qoods which is to completely fill the trapdoor 4b, has been formed on the bottom zone 4a, the plunger 1 ~ 5 ~ ~7 ~
5 is activated t~ push this row forward with an excess s~roke paying regard to the dimension of the inter-mediate storage zone 4c, if any, in the direction of movement, the excess stroke being sufficient to cause the plunger 5 positively to clamp the rows of goods collected on the trapdoor or bottom ~one 4b between itself and the opposite wall 2d of the space.
The boundary walls 2b, 2c of the space 2 preferably also constitute the front face of plungers 6, 7 movable in the normal direction of these walls and adapted, simultaneously with said clamping of the rows of goods between the plunger face 2a and the wall 2d, to posi-tively clamp these rows on their two other sides or ends.
In this manner, the rows of goods on the trapdoor 4b can be positively retained and held together on all sides during the time the trapdoor is being opened, and the goods standing on the trapdoor thus can be deposited therethrough as a unit, i.e. all goods at the same time, only when the trapdoor 4b is fully open~
The above-mentioned forward strokes of the plungers 5, 6, 7 are activated by a photocell and time delay system which on the one hand senses when a finished row of goods has accumulated on the section or bottom ~one 4a of the conveyor 3 and activates the forward stroke of the plunger 5 and, on the other hand, senses when the last row of goods is in position on the trap-1;254~7~
door or bottom zone 4b and activates the said clamping-together of the rows of goods and then opening of the trapdoor, whereupon the return strokes of the plungers 5, 6, 7 and closing of the trapdoor are ac-tivated. To this ends, the plungers 5, 6, 7 may be, for example, the plungers of double-acting compressed air cylinders. Opening and closing of the trapdoor may also be effected by compressed air for horizontal-ly pulling apart the door halves.
Below the collecting space 2, a container conveyor 8 travels and conveys spaced apart empty containers 9 successively into alignment with the trapdoor 4b.
After the empty containers have been filled with the rows of goods on the trapdoor 4b, the conveyor ~ carries and conveys containers 9' filled with rows of goods.
The conveyor movement is controlled in such a manner, for example by means of a photocell means included in the above-mentioned photocell system, that the conveyor stops when an empty container 9 is directly below the trapdoor or bottom ~one 4b. In an alterna-tive arrangement, the conveyor 8 need not be stopped, and the empty container as well as the container queue behind it can be brought to a standstill on the tra-velling conveyor by stop means activated by the photo-cell which acknowledges the arrival of an empty container in the area below the trapdoor. The goods-receiving part of the containers has a horizontal cross-sectional area which is slightly larger than the area of the ~25~178 trapdoor and is congruent with the opening of the trapdoor so that, when the trapdoor has been fully opened and the plungers 5, 6,7 are retracted, the rows of goods are dropped down into and fill out the underlying container part which at that moment has been brought to a standstill. The containers are carried on the conveyor ~ with their lower bottom side which protrudes a dis-tance beyond the side edges of the conveyor 8 on either side of the conveyor. On these sides the containers may be provided with legs or with the descending walls provided with windows disclosed in applicant's U.S. Patent No. 4,478,156 issued October 23, 1984.
Continued movement of the conveyor 8 is activated after the rows of goods descending through the trapdoor have struck the bottom of the empty container 9.
To avoid the disadvantage referred to in the introduc-tion of the specification and encountered in container filling machines of this constructlon, the machine according to the lnvention has a device which first raises the empty container standing directly under the trapdoor from the container conveyor 8 and then gradually absorbs the kinetic energy of the row of goods falling through the trapdoor.
This device comprises, in the embodiment now described, an arm 10 hingedly attached to one end on the machine frame for vertical plvotment between ~25B~7~3 a lower p~sition and an upper position substantially beneath the trapdoor. ~he arm 10 is fork-shaped at its other end portion, and the two fork arms 10a extend in parallel with the container conveyor B on either side thereof, their mutual distance being such that they extend in under the container legs ox descend-ing walls on either side of the conveyor 8 when the arm is in its lower position, as is the case during movement of the container conveyor and at the time when an empty container is at standstill in an area underneath the trapdoor 4b. The forks 10a have inner side flanges and thus are L-shaped in cross-section to laterally guide and hold a container conveyed there-over, i.e. in parallel with the container conveyor 8.
On its upper side, the arm 10 is hingedly connected to the plungex of a compressed air cylinder assembly 11 which lies outside the area of the trapdoor 4b and is hingedly connected to the machine frame at its other higher end. Like the arm 10, the cylinder-plunger assembly is part,o a lifting and lowering device 12 which is adapted, after the movement of an empty container 9 has been stopped in the manner mentioned above when the empty container 9, has arrived in an area beneath the trapdoor 4b, to lift, by means of the arm 10 the empty container 9 from the conveyor 8 into an upper goods-receiving position aligned with the opening of the trapdoor 4b. The lifting stroke of the plunger of the assembly 11 is so dimensioned that, when it has raised the arm carrying an empty ~ ~2 ~ ~ 1 7~
container 9 into its upper position, the fork end of the arm is horizontal so that the forks lOa posi-tively support the empty container which also is in its upper position in which it is supported by all of its legs.
The lifting and lowering device 12 also is adapted to lower a filled container from its upper position down onto the conveyor 80 The cylinder 11 may therefore be of the single-acting type operated by compressed air via a three-position valve 13 for upward movement of its plunger into a predetermined end position cor-responding to the upper positions of the arm 10 and the empty container 9. This end position of the plunger may be determined by photocell means 14 sensing the upper position of the arm 10 and activating the valve 13 to exert a load on the other side of the plunger with a lower counterpressure. The pressure differential is so dimensioned that it essentially balances the combined weights of the lifting arm and the empty container. When the arm with the empty container is in the upper position, they may both be described as being essentially floatingly suspended.
The pressure side of the cylinder 11 is vented when the bottom of the floating empty container 9 is struck by the goods falling through the opened trapdoor 4b in the manner described above. On impact, the goods quantity transfers part of its kinetic energy to the arm and the empty container, which transfer ~ ~254~7~3 may also be detected by means of, for example, the photocell means 14 which thus react to the downward passage of, for example, the arm 10 from its upper position, said reaction being used for setting the valve 13 to vent the cylinder 11 on the pressure side.
The venting line comprises a throttle 15 which can be set to give the desired velocity for lowering the arm 10 and the filled container 9' carried thereby.
The arm thus can gently deposit the filled container on the conveyor 8. The signal for lifting an empty container by means of the arm can be derived, in the embodiment described, from the signal which stops the conveyor 8 when an empty container 9 has arrived in the area beneath the trapdoor 4b. In the embodiment illustrated, the position in which an empty container arriving in the area beneath the trapdoor is detected, is selected with regard to the circular arc movement of the arm during lifting of a container sp that the empty container in the upper position will be aligned with the trapdoor, as has been mentioned before.
Naturally, many other per se known means for lifting, lowering and dampening may be used in the context of this invention, also entirely mechanical arrangements with springs lifting and lowering the container in the vertical direction instead of in the path of a circular arc.
3 ~54~8 The present invention relates to an improvement in a machine ~or filling containers with single-piece goods, said machine having means for accumulating goods on an openable bottom at a level above a conveyor carrying a succession of empty containérs to a region underneath said bottom, means being provided for opening the bottom in order to deposit the accumula~ed goods quantity in the underlying container.
BACKGROUND O~ THE INVENT?ON
Prior art container filling machines of ~the type depositing from a height single-piece goods into a container on an underlying conveyor suffer from the disadvantage that the goods strike the container bottom unyieldingly carried on the conveyor with too great a force and frequently in a disorderly manner deviating from the orientation in which they are dropped, thus causing damage to the goods.
It is the object of this invention essentially to reduce this problem encountered in prior art machines of the type here referred to~
SUMMARY OF THE INVEN'rION
. . .
To this end, the machine according to the in-vention is provided with means for raising the empty container from the conveyor into alignment with the, as yet, closed bottom directly beneath said bottom, and adapted, upon receipt of the goods quantity by said con-tainer, successively to absorb the kinetic energy of the goods quantity, thereby to impart to the filled ~25~17~3 container a dampened downward movement bac~ to the conveyor.
In this manner, the impact of the goods on the con-tainer bottom will have the effect that the container takes over part of the kinetic energy of the deposited goods in a descending motion, such that the energy of impact of the goods on the con-tainer bottom is absorbed successively, and the risk of damage to the goods is reduced.
According to the present invention therefore there is provided in combination with a machine for filling containers with a single-piece goods and including an accumulating station having an openable bottom, means for providing an accumulation of the goods on said bottom while it is closed, and a conveyor for carrying a succession of empty containers to a region below said bottom, the improvement comprising means for opening said bottom to allow said accumulation of goods to fall against an underlying empty container, a movable devlce having a lower position ad~a-cent said underlying empty container and movable to an upper position to lift said empty container from the conveyor to an upper position for receiving said accumulation of goods upon opening of said bottom, and a control syst~m connected to said device for imparting thereto a dampened and continuous downward movement from its sald upper to its sald lower positlon, said system including means operable by downward impact of said accu-mulation against said container to initiate said continuous down-ward movement simultaneously with sald impact. Suitably the com-binatlon comprises also means for ad~usting the control system vary the velocity of said contlnuous downward movement. Deslr-ably sald lnitiating means includes a photocell positioned tosense said lmpact.
In one embodiment of the present invention the control system also includes an actuator connected to sald movable device, and control means connected to the actuator and having a first position for operating the actuator to raise sald device B i ~
1254~ 7~
from its lower to its upper position~ the control means having a second posltion for operating the actuator to hold said device in its said upper position, said control means having a third posi-tion for operating the actuator to impart said downward movement to said device. Suitably the control system also ~ncludes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its first to its second position in response to raising of said movable device to its upper position. Desirably said sensing device is operable to shift said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact. Suitably the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
15In a further embodiment of the present invention said actuator is a plunger-cylinder assembly, the control system also including a compressed air source, said control means being oper-able in its first position to connect said source to one side of the plunger of said assembly to raise said device, said control means being operable in its second position to connect said source to both sides of said plunger to hold said device in its said upper position, said control means being operable in its third position to vent one side of the plunger and thereby impart said downward movement. Suitably the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its first to its second position in response to raising of said movable device to its upper position. Desirably said sensing device is operable to shift said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultan~ously with said impact. Preferably said control means is three-position valve.
Suitably the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
35In another embodiment of the present invention the con-trol system also includes means for holding said devlce in its - 3a ~
~ZS~17~
upper position by opposing forces of which the upwardly directed holding force is adapted for downward yielding to accommodate movement of said device from its upper to its lower position.
Suitably said initiating means includes a sensing device for initiating said downward yielding.
The invention will be described below in more detail, reference being had to the accompanylng drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional con-tainer filling machine, showing details of the invention; and Fig. 2 ia schematic view of an embodiment of the inven-tion.
Fig. 1 illustrates a container filling machine of con-ventional construction, except that it is provided with means according to the invention which will be described in connection with Fig. 2. In this conventional machine, the function and basic construction of which will now be described, identical single-piece goods 1, such as rectangular packages, are carried in spaced apart relationship to a rectangular collecting space 2 having lateral boundary walls 2a,2b,2c,2d, by means of an endless conveyor belt, a section ~a of which constantly forms an end zone of the hori-~`~
'r~j - 3b -1254~7B
zontal bottom 4 of the space 2. The bottom end zone is located adiacent a plunger 5, the end face of which forms the side wall 2a of the space 2, said plunger being guided in such a manner that, when the goods have come to a stop against the space wall 2b and filled the said conveyor belt section or bottom zone 4a, i.e. when a row of a predetermined number of in-terabuttinq goods has been formed in this zone, the plunger is activated to make a forward stroke slightly .
longer than the width or transverse dimension of the belt section or bottom zone 4a, such that the row of goods is pushed out of this zone towards the opposite wall 2d of the space. At the same time, any preceding rows of goods on the bottom 4 are pushed towards the opposite wall 2d through the same distance. Beyond the bottom zone 4a, the bottom 4 is defined by a trap-door 4b divided in its center into two halves which can be horizontally pulled apart for opening~ The area of the trapdoor or bottom zone 4b is so chosen that this zone can be filled with a predetermined number of densely packed rows of goods. The trapdoor or bottom zone 4b can border upon the said belt section or bottom zone 4a or, as will appear from the drawing, may be separated therefrom by means of a stationary bottom zone 4c for intermediate storage of rows of goods. When the last row of goods, i.e. the row of qoods which is to completely fill the trapdoor 4b, has been formed on the bottom zone 4a, the plunger 1 ~ 5 ~ ~7 ~
5 is activated t~ push this row forward with an excess s~roke paying regard to the dimension of the inter-mediate storage zone 4c, if any, in the direction of movement, the excess stroke being sufficient to cause the plunger 5 positively to clamp the rows of goods collected on the trapdoor or bottom ~one 4b between itself and the opposite wall 2d of the space.
The boundary walls 2b, 2c of the space 2 preferably also constitute the front face of plungers 6, 7 movable in the normal direction of these walls and adapted, simultaneously with said clamping of the rows of goods between the plunger face 2a and the wall 2d, to posi-tively clamp these rows on their two other sides or ends.
In this manner, the rows of goods on the trapdoor 4b can be positively retained and held together on all sides during the time the trapdoor is being opened, and the goods standing on the trapdoor thus can be deposited therethrough as a unit, i.e. all goods at the same time, only when the trapdoor 4b is fully open~
The above-mentioned forward strokes of the plungers 5, 6, 7 are activated by a photocell and time delay system which on the one hand senses when a finished row of goods has accumulated on the section or bottom ~one 4a of the conveyor 3 and activates the forward stroke of the plunger 5 and, on the other hand, senses when the last row of goods is in position on the trap-1;254~7~
door or bottom zone 4b and activates the said clamping-together of the rows of goods and then opening of the trapdoor, whereupon the return strokes of the plungers 5, 6, 7 and closing of the trapdoor are ac-tivated. To this ends, the plungers 5, 6, 7 may be, for example, the plungers of double-acting compressed air cylinders. Opening and closing of the trapdoor may also be effected by compressed air for horizontal-ly pulling apart the door halves.
Below the collecting space 2, a container conveyor 8 travels and conveys spaced apart empty containers 9 successively into alignment with the trapdoor 4b.
After the empty containers have been filled with the rows of goods on the trapdoor 4b, the conveyor ~ carries and conveys containers 9' filled with rows of goods.
The conveyor movement is controlled in such a manner, for example by means of a photocell means included in the above-mentioned photocell system, that the conveyor stops when an empty container 9 is directly below the trapdoor or bottom ~one 4b. In an alterna-tive arrangement, the conveyor 8 need not be stopped, and the empty container as well as the container queue behind it can be brought to a standstill on the tra-velling conveyor by stop means activated by the photo-cell which acknowledges the arrival of an empty container in the area below the trapdoor. The goods-receiving part of the containers has a horizontal cross-sectional area which is slightly larger than the area of the ~25~178 trapdoor and is congruent with the opening of the trapdoor so that, when the trapdoor has been fully opened and the plungers 5, 6,7 are retracted, the rows of goods are dropped down into and fill out the underlying container part which at that moment has been brought to a standstill. The containers are carried on the conveyor ~ with their lower bottom side which protrudes a dis-tance beyond the side edges of the conveyor 8 on either side of the conveyor. On these sides the containers may be provided with legs or with the descending walls provided with windows disclosed in applicant's U.S. Patent No. 4,478,156 issued October 23, 1984.
Continued movement of the conveyor 8 is activated after the rows of goods descending through the trapdoor have struck the bottom of the empty container 9.
To avoid the disadvantage referred to in the introduc-tion of the specification and encountered in container filling machines of this constructlon, the machine according to the lnvention has a device which first raises the empty container standing directly under the trapdoor from the container conveyor 8 and then gradually absorbs the kinetic energy of the row of goods falling through the trapdoor.
This device comprises, in the embodiment now described, an arm 10 hingedly attached to one end on the machine frame for vertical plvotment between ~25B~7~3 a lower p~sition and an upper position substantially beneath the trapdoor. ~he arm 10 is fork-shaped at its other end portion, and the two fork arms 10a extend in parallel with the container conveyor B on either side thereof, their mutual distance being such that they extend in under the container legs ox descend-ing walls on either side of the conveyor 8 when the arm is in its lower position, as is the case during movement of the container conveyor and at the time when an empty container is at standstill in an area underneath the trapdoor 4b. The forks 10a have inner side flanges and thus are L-shaped in cross-section to laterally guide and hold a container conveyed there-over, i.e. in parallel with the container conveyor 8.
On its upper side, the arm 10 is hingedly connected to the plungex of a compressed air cylinder assembly 11 which lies outside the area of the trapdoor 4b and is hingedly connected to the machine frame at its other higher end. Like the arm 10, the cylinder-plunger assembly is part,o a lifting and lowering device 12 which is adapted, after the movement of an empty container 9 has been stopped in the manner mentioned above when the empty container 9, has arrived in an area beneath the trapdoor 4b, to lift, by means of the arm 10 the empty container 9 from the conveyor 8 into an upper goods-receiving position aligned with the opening of the trapdoor 4b. The lifting stroke of the plunger of the assembly 11 is so dimensioned that, when it has raised the arm carrying an empty ~ ~2 ~ ~ 1 7~
container 9 into its upper position, the fork end of the arm is horizontal so that the forks lOa posi-tively support the empty container which also is in its upper position in which it is supported by all of its legs.
The lifting and lowering device 12 also is adapted to lower a filled container from its upper position down onto the conveyor 80 The cylinder 11 may therefore be of the single-acting type operated by compressed air via a three-position valve 13 for upward movement of its plunger into a predetermined end position cor-responding to the upper positions of the arm 10 and the empty container 9. This end position of the plunger may be determined by photocell means 14 sensing the upper position of the arm 10 and activating the valve 13 to exert a load on the other side of the plunger with a lower counterpressure. The pressure differential is so dimensioned that it essentially balances the combined weights of the lifting arm and the empty container. When the arm with the empty container is in the upper position, they may both be described as being essentially floatingly suspended.
The pressure side of the cylinder 11 is vented when the bottom of the floating empty container 9 is struck by the goods falling through the opened trapdoor 4b in the manner described above. On impact, the goods quantity transfers part of its kinetic energy to the arm and the empty container, which transfer ~ ~254~7~3 may also be detected by means of, for example, the photocell means 14 which thus react to the downward passage of, for example, the arm 10 from its upper position, said reaction being used for setting the valve 13 to vent the cylinder 11 on the pressure side.
The venting line comprises a throttle 15 which can be set to give the desired velocity for lowering the arm 10 and the filled container 9' carried thereby.
The arm thus can gently deposit the filled container on the conveyor 8. The signal for lifting an empty container by means of the arm can be derived, in the embodiment described, from the signal which stops the conveyor 8 when an empty container 9 has arrived in the area beneath the trapdoor 4b. In the embodiment illustrated, the position in which an empty container arriving in the area beneath the trapdoor is detected, is selected with regard to the circular arc movement of the arm during lifting of a container sp that the empty container in the upper position will be aligned with the trapdoor, as has been mentioned before.
Naturally, many other per se known means for lifting, lowering and dampening may be used in the context of this invention, also entirely mechanical arrangements with springs lifting and lowering the container in the vertical direction instead of in the path of a circular arc.
Claims (14)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In combination with a machine for filling contain-ers with a single-piece goods and including an accumulating sta-tion having an openable bottom, means for providing an accumula-tion of the goods on said bottom while it is closed, and a con-veyor for carrying a succession of empty containers to a region below said bottom, the improvement comprising means for opening said bottom to allow said accumulation of goods to fall against an underlying empty container, a movable device having a lower position adjacent said underlying empty container and movable to an upper position to lift said empty container from the conveyor to an upper position for receiving said accumulation of goods upon opening of said bottom, and a control system connected to said device for imparting thereto a dampened and continuous down-ward movement from its said upper to its said lower position, said system including means operable by downward impact of said accumulation against said container to initiate said continuous downward movement simultaneously with said impact.
2. The combination of claim 1, comprising also means for adjusting the control system vary the velocity of said con-tinuous downward movement.
3. The combination of claim 1, in which the control system also includes an actuator connected to said movable device, and control means connected to the actuator and having a first position for operating the actuator to raise said device from its lower to its upper position, the control means having a second position for operating the actuator to hold said device in its said upper position, said control means having a third posi-tion for operating the actuator to impart said downward movement to said device.
4. The combination of claim 3, in which the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its first to its second position in response to rais-ing of said movable device to its upper position.
5. The combination of claim 4, in which said sensing device is operable to shift said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
6. The combination of claim 3, in which the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
7. The combination of claim 3, in which said actuator is a plunger-cylinder assembly, the control system also including a compressed air source, said control means being operable in its first position to connect said source to one side of the plunger of said assembly to raise said device, said control means being operable in its second position to connect said source to both sides of said plunger to hold said device in its said upper posi-tion, said control means being operable in its third position to vent one side of the plunger and thereby impart said downward movement.
8. The combination of claim 7, in which the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its first to its second position in response to rais-ing of said movable device to its upper position.
9. The combination of claim 8, in which said sensing device is operable to shift said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
10. The combination of claim 9, in which said control means is three-position valve.
11. The combination of claim 7, in which the control system also includes a sensing device for shifting said control means from its second to its third position in response to and simultaneously with said impact.
12. The combination of claim 1, in which the control system also includes means for holding said device in its upper position by opposing forces of which the upwardly directed holding force is adapted for downward yielding to accommodate movement of said device from its upper to its lower position.
13. The combination of claim 12, in which said initiat-ing means includes a sensing device for initiating said downward yielding.
14. The combination of claim 1, in which said initiat-ing means includes a photocell positioned to sense said impact.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE8306912A SE455410B (en) | 1983-12-14 | 1983-12-14 | DEVICE FOR MACHINES FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH PIECES |
| SE8306912-0 | 1983-12-14 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1254178A true CA1254178A (en) | 1989-05-16 |
Family
ID=20353728
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000470232A Expired CA1254178A (en) | 1983-12-14 | 1984-12-14 | Machines for filling containers with single-piece goods |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4703606A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0153551B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS60148407A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE36290T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU570528B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1254178A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3473257D1 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK157333C (en) |
| FI (1) | FI77199C (en) |
| NO (1) | NO160609C (en) |
| SE (1) | SE455410B (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB8523904D0 (en) * | 1985-09-27 | 1985-10-30 | Alfa Laval Cheese Systems | Packaging blocks of cheese |
| EP1314662A3 (en) * | 1998-06-25 | 2003-11-05 | Yamato Scale Co., Ltd. | Boxing system |
| US6382401B2 (en) | 1998-06-25 | 2002-05-07 | Yamato Scale Company, Limited | Boxing system using conveyor apparatus |
| US6854588B1 (en) | 2003-06-16 | 2005-02-15 | Allpax Products, Inc. | Tray conveyor/loading system |
| NL1032449C2 (en) * | 2006-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | Robert Bosch Verpakkingsmachin | Device for packaging objects in a box as well as such a method. |
| JP6084846B2 (en) * | 2013-01-15 | 2017-02-22 | 株式会社イシダ | Boxing equipment |
| CN103601608B (en) * | 2013-11-09 | 2015-12-02 | 河北科技大学 | The tubulature mechanism of detonator split mold in a kind of detonator production |
Family Cites Families (15)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL293345A (en) * | ||||
| SE210594C1 (en) * | ||||
| US1874669A (en) * | 1929-03-19 | 1932-08-30 | California Packing Corp | Case-filling machine |
| GB707067A (en) * | 1951-04-18 | 1954-04-14 | United Dairies London Ltd | Improvements in or relating to marshalling apparatus for articles to be loaded into crates |
| US3307328A (en) * | 1965-04-02 | 1967-03-07 | Lodge & Shipley Co | Air cushioned elevator for case packers |
| US3826382A (en) * | 1973-01-04 | 1974-07-30 | A Zappia | Case packer |
| JPS532396B2 (en) * | 1973-08-13 | 1978-01-27 | ||
| US3948018A (en) * | 1974-08-30 | 1976-04-06 | The Lodge & Shipley Company | Dual conveyor case packer |
| DE2519777A1 (en) * | 1975-05-02 | 1976-11-11 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Equipment for placing objects in collecting containers - has vertically adjustable platform for supporting filled containers |
| US4010594A (en) * | 1975-05-27 | 1977-03-08 | Stanley A. McClusky | Method for supplying boxes to a plurality of filling and weighing stations and removal of filled boxes thereof |
| US4391078A (en) * | 1980-01-16 | 1983-07-05 | Nigrelli Corporation | Loading blades for packaging apparatus |
| US4406110A (en) * | 1980-10-01 | 1983-09-27 | A-T-O Inc. (Now Figgie International) | Power cylinder having external stroke adjustment mechanism |
| DD201427A1 (en) * | 1981-08-17 | 1983-07-20 | Gerhard Heinrich | CARDBOARD BOX MACHINE |
| US4534157A (en) * | 1982-06-29 | 1985-08-13 | Figgie International Inc. | Case lift outfeed apparatus |
| US4506493A (en) * | 1983-07-18 | 1985-03-26 | Duron, Inc. | Case packer |
-
1983
- 1983-12-14 SE SE8306912A patent/SE455410B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1984
- 1984-12-11 JP JP59260092A patent/JPS60148407A/en active Granted
- 1984-12-12 EP EP84850384A patent/EP0153551B1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-12-12 DE DE8484850384T patent/DE3473257D1/en not_active Expired
- 1984-12-12 AT AT84850384T patent/ATE36290T1/en active
- 1984-12-13 NO NO845008A patent/NO160609C/en unknown
- 1984-12-13 AU AU36655/84A patent/AU570528B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1984-12-13 DK DK596384A patent/DK157333C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1984-12-13 FI FI844921A patent/FI77199C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1984-12-14 CA CA000470232A patent/CA1254178A/en not_active Expired
-
1986
- 1986-07-14 US US06/884,899 patent/US4703606A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO160609B (en) | 1989-01-30 |
| EP0153551A1 (en) | 1985-09-04 |
| SE8306912L (en) | 1985-06-15 |
| NO160609C (en) | 1989-05-10 |
| FI844921L (en) | 1985-06-15 |
| SE8306912D0 (en) | 1983-12-14 |
| DE3473257D1 (en) | 1988-09-15 |
| FI77199B (en) | 1988-10-31 |
| US4703606A (en) | 1987-11-03 |
| NO845008L (en) | 1985-06-17 |
| SE455410B (en) | 1988-07-11 |
| DK157333B (en) | 1989-12-18 |
| DK596384D0 (en) | 1984-12-13 |
| AU3665584A (en) | 1985-06-20 |
| DK596384A (en) | 1985-06-15 |
| AU570528B2 (en) | 1988-03-17 |
| JPH0440247B2 (en) | 1992-07-02 |
| EP0153551B1 (en) | 1988-08-10 |
| ATE36290T1 (en) | 1988-08-15 |
| FI77199C (en) | 1989-02-10 |
| DK157333C (en) | 1990-05-14 |
| JPS60148407A (en) | 1985-08-05 |
| FI844921A0 (en) | 1984-12-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |